My dad has taken on this grandparent name as his own out of respect for the man that raised him. Georgia calls my dad Grandaddy, but he isn't the real Grandaddy. The real Grandaddy is slowly slipping away from us tonight.
The "real" Grandaddy married my grandmother after a man I never met left her with 3 children and never looked back. My dad was the youngest of the group at just 2 years old. Grandaddy and Nanhee went to high school together and the story is he always had a thing for her. He married her and spent the rest of his life supporting her three children, working multiple jobs at times and loving all of us SO much.
Every year since I can remember I have received a birthday and Christmas card from Nanhee and Grandaddy on my birthday and ever since Georgia has been around she has received the same. I always thought Nanhee sent these cards. A couple of years ago Nanhee was diagnosed with dementia. It got to the point that Grandaddy could no longer care for her at home so arrangements were made and she now lives in a full time care facility....yet every year I still receive these cards. Nanhee knows who I am from memory, but in person she has no idea. She is slowly loosing precious memories every day.
I never put it together until this year when my birthday card came on schedule this year just like the past 26 years. I guess last year I thought he just took the cards up to the facility and had her sign them. I went to visit this year and realized Nanhee could not write or sign her name if she wanted to. The hand writing on the cards hasn't changed. It is the same scrawly cursive writing I've read my entire life. Nanhee never sent the cards. Grandaddy has sent every single card to everyone every year. He has signed their names and made sure the card arrived on time.
This speaks volumes about the man who is loosing his life tonight. He gives me hope and has set an example for me that I doubt he will ever fully know.
In the words of a child...I guess you never see more truth?
Since Georgia was sick last week (did I ever post she was diagnosed with strep? ugh.) We were out of work/school for 2 days. Then I had to return to the work force and she tagged along since the dr. said she could not return back to school until Monday.
My dad has a restaurant he goes to daily- The Dinner Bell. I think it was built in the 1950's and hasn't changed a bit since. Imagine going to a cafeteria in the 1950's and you have The Dinner Bell complete with ash trays screwed into the walls and high chairs/ booster seats I thought had been confiscated long ago. Lots of pleather, exposed brick and Fox News plays non stop on the TV in the center. If you are lucky (and there early) you get the table right in front of the TV. Those seats go fast so be prepared if you arrive around 11:30 you will be in a booth craning your neck for a view of the TV....
I used to HATE The Dinner Bell. I would gripe about going, I thought the food was disgusting and BEGGED to go to Luby's instead. My dad began to have the company Christmas parties there and I really had to put my foot down. It was just unacceptable. When he got married The Dinner Bell even made his wedding cake. (Of course they have a bakery right next to the pawn shop...)
Since I've worked for him the past 2 1/2 years I hate to say I have come to like (dare I say love?) The Dinner Bell. I honestly cannot believe it myself. Now Luby's seems disgusting while The Dinner Bell appears to cook with fresh ingredients and less "processed stuff". My dad and I go every day and most days I am patiently waiting for him to come down and ask "You want to go get something to eat?" "Umm YES it's like 11:15 why did you take so long? We'll never get a seat in front of the Fox News Tube now!!!"
Occasionally he fakes me out and takes me some weird place without telling me first. I don't know about you but I am what I like to call a "taste bud person". If I think I'm about to go eat pizza and then you take me to eat sushi I am not going to be pleasantly surprised. I prep my stomach for what it's about to consume. If a wrench is thrown in the plans unexpectedly I'm not necessarily excited about it. So it's pretty irritating when I'm expecting my Dinner Bell "usual" and we end up at the new greek restaurant down the street. FYI- Dad if you are reading this please give me a heads up that you aren't, in fact, just taking another weird short cut but that we aren't going to be dining at the dinner bell that day. Thanks.
Back to The Dinner Bell...my college friends who were with me during a unique finding of a buffet Luby's located in San Marcos (Oh yes, imagine the possibilities, BUFFET LUBY'S and yes the possibility of finding 30 pounds on my waist) know my love of cafeteria foods. You bypass the meats and go straight for the vegatables. By vegetables I mean mac and cheese, mashed potatoes with cream gravy, green beans (you have to have some semblance of healthy in this carb explosion) and a dinner roll. So I used to get that for lunch. I just couldn't continue- I knew the end result from college and I knew I had to show some self restraint. So now they make my order specifically for me. Yep- they KNOW us there.
Salad with Tuna Salad on half and 1/2 boiled egg. I order an extra 2 whole boiled eggs on the side. And there you have lunch. It's crave worthy, plus it doesn't include carbs so win-win.
So the main story of this post goes back to Georgia, not my love of this weird, disgusting cafeteria. Georgia and I arrive at the office and my dad (Grandaddy) comes down.
Georgia- "Grandaddy!! Guess what? I get to go to lunch with you today to my FAVORITE place"
Dad- "Oh yeah where is that?"
Georgia- "The dinner bell, they make my favorite Mac and Cheese!"
I'm silently cursing myself for ever bringing her to this establishment while begrudgingly admitting I actually love it too...
Later on at lunch...
Georgia- "Grandaddy- your full right?"
Dad- "Yes I am, how can you tell"
(He is obviously expecting and answer such as; your plate is empty, you stopped eating, etc.)
Georgia- "You're big fat belly!"
hahahahahaha- you should have seen my dad's face!
So he sucks in his "big fat belly" and asks her:
Dad- "What about now?"
Georgia- "Oh, NOW you look hungry!"
Georgia made her way to the pediatrician's office courtesy of her chauffeur today, moi. She has strep AND a virus. Sheets, pillows and all "soft" surfaces are in the washer right now while everything else has been lysol'd. I'm still breathing in the lysol and I completed the task about an hour ago so I'm sure my lungs have been cleared out in the process.
Quick update on Kindergarten for the big school girl. All is going well, she loves her teacher and her teacher loves her (of course). She does seem to have a strange fascination with glue... Last Friday she came home and told me she had to sit out of recess because she "cut the glue bottle". Ummm what? Why would you do that Georgia? She explained to me the glue bottle did not cut open, but she cut it with her scissors because Riley told her to. Riley actually performed a little count down of sorts while Georgia snapped the scissors down on the glue bottle. We had a nice little chat about how we are in charge of our own actions and no one can MAKE us do anything. Then moved on...
Tuesday night (prior to the sickness) Georgia had dance class. When I picked her up she said:
Georgia- "Mom, you know you aren't suppose to smell the glue or the top of it."
Me- "Yes Georgia, I know, you aren't suppose to do that"
Georgia- "Well, I just sniffed it."
Once I finished laughing hysterically I was able to tell her not to do this again.
I'm sure, if you've been around long enough, you have seen videos of Georgia "performing" for me for years. It started long ago when she would watch the Disney movies, memorize the songs and dances and perform them at night.
As seen here:
Well she never stopped. This is what we did last Saturday night before bedtime.... I think this was performance number four or five of the evening. I think it's hilarious how she runs out and hugs Winston and I before beginning her song. hahaha!
Kinda long but pretty funny. Okay since I'm her mom I'm probably the only one that thinks this is hilarious...but you have to say when she goes into the bit about "How do you spell Outer Space?" That's pretty funny!
Here's a quick transcript in case you got lost in 5 year old crazy singing, at least to the best of my deciphering ability.
"Introducing Georgia, and here she is Georgia Clare Bedre
(yayyyy)
(oh hey Georgia, alright, go sing your heart out)
Someday, you are never gonna forget about this, this, this.
I am this and this is the deal.
The deal of the night.
Distance.
We are coming closer to Houston, Texas, Houston, Texas.
Everything for you.
Cause we’re going closer to Houston, Texas, oh, oh , oh
lalalala, oh, oh, oh.
We’re givin back
(Giving back)
We’re coming back from to New York to Texas
(back to Texas)
To, what did you say-ay? Yeah, yeah.
Why did you say so?
I’m coming back with you to New York cause I love you.
My mother, my mother, my mother, my father.
May 24th what do you say, May hundred twenty
fourth,
Everything, Someday!
What was it about?
Lalalala, your never, your never gonna find the diamond
castle, never, ever.
What if I don’t make it to outer space?
(Make it to outer space)
What, how do you spell outer space?
Tell me
(Tell me)
Say the words
(Say the words)
S, s,
(s, s)
T L L E LL what’s our number ? One.
What’s your number? One. My darlin’, my darlin’.
Everything.
Little Miss Georgia is sick today so we are hanging out at the house watching re-run after re-run of what else? Power Rangers.
Unfortunately I did not wake her up and find out she had a fever until I was fully dressed and ready for work otherwise we would both probably be back in bed right now.
I thought this was strange- driving around yesterday my radio read "Clare" all day long. It never changed. It is suppose to tell you the song/artist or station you are on. Weird because Georgia's middle name is "Clare" and spelled that exact way since she is named after my grandfather "Clarence" I did not spell it the traditional way. Hmm wonder what this is a sign of....
Picture updates...
Grandaddy and Emmy were able to exchange the dress they bought for Georgia's birthday and she scored one that fits! She wouldn't take it off for about 24 hours.
Dinner @ Benihana
Playing Dress up
Birthday Party @ Chuck E Cheese or Crack for Kids with bright lights and tickets!!!
Over Stimulation at it's best...I guess that does = a sleepy child so win/win?
Georgia & BFF Hallie
Day at the Zoo... Georgia decided it was "Dress Fancy Like Nancy" day and dressed herself
She posed at every single possible picture taking point. I promised I did not ask her to stand by the following statues. I actually tried to persuade her to keep moving....
Busting out the long sleeves for the 84 degree weather.
(It was low 70's when we left for school that morning in my defense)
